Dear Mr Cornwell, I have recently started reading your Sharpe books and they have given me an interest in the Peninsular war. I read history on an ameteur basis, to give me relief of the vigours of being a trainee solicitor. I had previously done a lot of research on the hundred years war and the Victorian wars, as well as the Boer and first world war. I am acutely aware I have a knowledge gap of the circa 400 years between events. Thanks to your Sharpe books I now have an interest in Wellington. What I would like to ask are possible sources for information on the common soldier. I have read books re the various army’s dispositions, such as Paget’s 1990 book, Wellington’s peninsular war and have started reading Wellington’s dispatches. However, I wish to know how you ascertain such superb information on ordinary soldiers, such as fuse lengths cut, urinating down barrels and commanders nicknames. I have also found difficulty in finding books on Wellington in India. Please could you provide a brief reading list relating to these facets of army life? I would like to say what a wonderful writer you are. My father pestered me for years during my youth to read your books, but I did not think anything could come close to Malcolm Mcdonald Fraser’s Flashman series, based upon the supposition you could not write historical fiction well without a large proportion being humour. I am pleased to say you have proved me wrong and surpassed the more humourous efforts. It has also given me months of enjoyable reading. Yours faithfully,

Joe .